Can A Mantis Shrimp Injure A Human?
Mantis shrimp, also called stomatopods, are a group of over 550 species of crustaceans that live in saltwater. They range in size from less than an inch long to well over a foot. They are known for their ability to attack and kill their prey using raptorial claws on their front legs (see figure 1A). According to the Great Barrier Reef Foundation, they can either spear their prey with sharp projections, or strike it with high-powered punches. There are two kinds of mantis shrimp: those that use their clubs to smack and smash things, like crabs, clams, oysters and lobsters; and those that spear their prey. Aside from the dactyl club, spearers have two sharp appendages on their front legs that they can launch into the body of their prey to pierce it and prevent it from escaping. The dactyl clubs are protected by a hard, crystalline layer of the mineral hydroxyapatite on the outside, which acts as shock absorbers, minimizing the force that goes through the appendage to the softer lay...